Building Balance: Recent Episodes
Jenna Hellberg
A podcast for solo business owners who want to reclaim their time, be intentionally productive, and make progress without overworking.
Listen for ideas, strategies, and tools to help you experience more balance between business and life – without having to hire a team.
Hosted by Jenna Hellberg – trained psychologist, documentary family photographer, and now productivity mentor for small business owners.
(Formerly Make Your Day podcast)
A little behind-the-scenes update about taking a break from podcasting.
This episode is more of a personal update than a lesson, but hopefully it can serve as a bit of inspiration if there’s a part of your business you want to take a break from.
In the meantime, please say Hei and stay in touch on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
If you feel resistant toward doing something differently or less frequently in your business, even when you know it would be beneficial, this episode is for you.
Find the reflection prompts in the show notes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/107-on-prioritizing-experiences-over-metrics
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
PRODUCTIVITY AND BALANCE RESOURCES
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Current free and paid resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
WANNA START YOUR OWN PODCAST?
Current free podcast launch resources here: https://www.jennahellberg.com/guides
Find out more about how I can support you: https://www.jennahellberg.com/
Depending on your business model and where you’re at in business, it can be challenging to take time off. Especially if you’re a solopreneur serving clients 1:1.
Even if you're going to be working for most of summer, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy this season throughout your workdays.
So if you're worried that summer is just going to fly by without having time to enjoy it (a worry I had a few days before recording!), I hope the exercise in this episode helps.
P.S. If it's not summer where you are right now, but you want whatever season you're in to feel a bit more special and like time didn't just fly by, this episode/exercise probably still applies.
Find the prompts in the show notes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/106-hot-solopreneur-summer-aka-how-enjoy-it-even-during-workweeks
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
PRODUCTIVITY AND BALANCE RESOURCES
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Current free and paid resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
WANNA START YOUR OWN PODCAST?
Current free podcast launch resources here: https://www.jennahellberg.com/guides
Find out more about how I can support you: https://www.jennahellberg.com/
Do you ever struggle to identify with the term “multi-passionate”, even if you've got a few different things going on?
In this episode, I'm offering an alternative that has positively impacted how I see and describe myself.
Join the conversation in this Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtEuQHvr75G/
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
PRODUCTIVITY AND BALANCE RESOURCES
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Current free and paid resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
WANNA START YOUR OWN PODCAST?
Current free podcast launch resources here: https://www.jennahellberg.com/guides
Find out more about how I can support you: https://www.jennahellberg.com/
Ever think that being a high achiever might slow you down in business?
In this training, you’ll learn about
✔︎ 6 traps you can fall into having grown up in an environment that values high achievers
✔︎ how these traps affect your progress in business, and
✔︎ what you can do about them, so you can make sustainable progress without having to push yourself too hard
Watch the Zoom recording and/or grab the slides here: https://jennahellberg.com/high-achiever-training
Recorded this training in Oct 2022 with the help of a few cool business owner friends – thank you Danbee, Cassie, Brian, Victoria, and Tiffany!
Worries are products of a brain that's trying to protect you. The tricky thing is they can lead you to not take the actions that would help you make progress in your business.
(Note: Your brain produces these thoughts; it's not "self-sabotage")
If you have worries about productivity or taking action in your business, I hope this episode
1) gives you tools that you can use to move past those worries, or
2) helps those worries become less intense.
Episode 032 on different types of pauses you can leverage as a business owner: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/032-4-types-of-pauses-to-leverage-as-a-business-owner
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you ever feel like you have to push through your work to see progress, I’ve got an alternative approach for you.
When it comes to achieving success or making progress in business, many business experts emphasize the importance of hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.
But I don’t hear them talk about the importance of willingness, which plays a significant part in your ability to keep doing the business thing long term. Or even short term!
Mentioned in this episode:
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Episode 056 on why it's hard to do "important, not urgent" tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/056-hard-to-focus-on-important-tasks-in-small-business
Blog post version of episode 056: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/focus-important-tasks-project-small-business
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Our high-achiever tendencies don’t always have our best interests in mind. But does that mean that we have to let go of them completely?
We can find a middle ground that allows for a more sustainable approach to business.
In the episode, I share
✔︎ a different way to think about being a high achiever
✔︎ where our high-achiever behaviors come from
✔︎ why we don't need to unlearn all behaviors associated with being a high achiever or action taker
✔︎ three things that can help in the process of learning how to make intentional choices (instead of default ones based on high-achiever wiring)
You might also like:
Episode 099 with client Danbee Shin talking about how leveling up isn't motivating enough: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/099-when-leveling-up-isnt-motivating-enough-with-client-danbee-shin
Episode 029 on the truth about being a high achiever: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/029-the-truth-about-being-a-high-achiever
Minimum Viable Effort blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/minimum-viable-effort-for-small-business
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Business has felt a bit heavy in the past few months – not in terms of an excessive worklaod, but on the mental and emotional side.
But I’ve had a few realizations that have brought me relief, and solopreneuring is feeling less heavy.
I hope they are helpful to you, too.
The original Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsFZ2zkJiqy/
The research article on the gap between income earned through a regular job vs starting a business: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/262131
The episode with Stacie on truths about entrepreneurship: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/046-truths-about-entrepreneurship-and-reaching-success-with-stacie-mitchell
Everyone's Talkin' Money podcast with Curtis May: 5 Principles of Personal Finance to Become Financially Free (Dec 16, 2022)
Everyone's Talkin' Money podcast with Eric Brotman: Build Your Path To Financial Freedom & Retirement at Any Age with Eric Brotman (Mar 2, 2021)
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you...
➤ feel like you’re not making progress as quickly as you "should"
➤ worry about whether or not your business is a viable option for you, or you
➤ feel like changing your business (or moving on from it) would mean you’ve failed somehow
... I hope this episode helps you feel less alone with those thoughts.
In this 100th episode, I share what’s been going through my mind in the past little while, and what that means for the Building Balance podcast and my business(es.)
This includes:
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the struggles I've been feeling in the past few months
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thoughts about moving on from this business to something else
-
what I think might free up brain space and capacity for more creative things and thought leadership
-
something new I've been playing around with outside of my businesses
-
wisdom I picked up from an exercise instructor who reminded me of a helpful way to view business/work/adulting
Episodes mentioned:
030 on Failure Fatigue: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/030-reducing-the-risk-of-business-burnout-part-1-failure-fatigue
080 on worries around what others will think if you change things in your business: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/080-worried-about-the-optics-of-tweaking-your-business
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
The benefits and results of what I do with my clients can vary in different ways, so I thought it would be fun to bring Danbee on the podcast to talk about her experience.
Danbee first came to me about a year ago, when business was going well on paper, but she wasn't motivated by "leveling up" anymore. She had some updates and projects in mind that she knew would help the business grow, but she couldn't get herself to do them – which was new to her as a life-long action-taker.
What was different about my work with Danbee compared to some of my other clients was that the main things she walked away with weren’t always super tangible action steps or quantifiable tweaks to the business. And still, she’s seen big changes in her business and life. Some of the benefits weren’t things she even would’ve thought she wanted to get out of our work together (until she had them.)
In the episode, we talked about:
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how Danbee wasn't feeling the fire and motivation to do the things she knew would grow her business
-
procrastination came as a surprise for a high achiever/action-taker/"good girl" who's always taken action
-
our businesses can't meet all of our needs
-
realizing that not taking care of basic needs makes business hard
-
getting a puppy caused a season of dropping to a Minimum Viable Effort
-
understanding the "high achiever tendencies" helped let go of rigid routines that were getting in the way of her most impactful work
-
letting business "be boring" for a while allowed space for creativity, novelty and challenge outside the business
-
the reminder that our brains make us think that our current circumstances will last forever
-
a fresh perspective can help you trust that what you're doing is the right way to go
-
Danbee's definition of balance – and how it differs from the norm
-
being able to work fewer hours means Danbee's life looks so different now --> she's the healthiest she's ever been
Plus Danbee shares her advice for anyone thinking about working with me.
Danbee's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbeeshin/
Danbee's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@danbeeshin
Danbee's website: https://www.danbeeshin.com/
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
We're coming up on the time of year when many of us are starting to plan for time off from our businesses – which can feel surprisingly complicated considering how "flexible" our lives are as entrepreneurs.
This week I teamed up with Theresa Sullivan of Little Flame Creative to share 10 ideas about how you can take time off as a true solopreneur.
So many tips around stepping away from your business revolve around how to make your business run without you or delegate to your team when you're away.
But what if you don't want your business to run without you? What if you don't have the luxury of hiring a team?
Minimum Viable Effort blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/minimum-viable-effort-for-small-business
Theresa's website: https://www.littleflamecreative.com
Theresa's IG post about taking time off, aka the post that inspired this episode collaboration: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNjNqLOymn/
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
https://www.instagram.com/littleflamecreative
Find my current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
If you tend to make plans or put routines or systems in place, only to start ignoring them later, this episode is for you. And don’t worry – the purpose of this episode is def not to make you feel bad about it!
Past episodes you might like:
Episode 094: Is it mindset... or just an unsupportive schedule? [Consult call]
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/094-is-it-mindset-or-just-an-unsupportive-schedule-consult-call
Episode 086: The real reason sticking to a consistent schedule is hard
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/086-the-real-reason-sticking-to-a-consistent-schedule-is-hard
Episode 076: "How do I shop up for business when burned out?"
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/076-how-do-i-show-up-for-business-when-burned-out
Episode 075: Why “proven” strategies often don’t work (with Cassie Widders)
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/075-why-proven-strategies-dont-work-cassie-widders
Episode 074: Feel guilt when life distracts you from business? [Consult call]
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/074-coaching-call-feel-guilt-when-life-distracts-you-from-business
Episode 056: Why it’s hard to do "important, not urgent" tasks and projects
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/056-hard-to-focus-on-important-tasks-in-small-business
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you feel like you have to force yourself to get things done, and you’d rather have internal motivation to do the things, I hope this episode gives you some things to think about.
Last week I talked about two things that bother me about how mindset is often talked about in online business.
In this episode, I talk about how I approach “mindset work” with my clients, and in my work in general.
Spoiler alert: I'd rather help you find ways to increase internal motivation, instead of just trying to get you to think differently.
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Episode 066 on increasing your resilience: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/066-a-skill-that-sets-you-up-for-resilience-in-business
Episode 030 on Failure Fatigue: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/030-reducing-the-risk-of-business-burnout-part-1-failure-fatigue
Episode 031 on Fatigue Failure: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/031-reducing-the-risk-of-business-burnout-part-2-fatigue-failure
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If there’s something in your business you want to do or accomplish, but somehow you can’t bring yourself to do the things – and you’ve thought (or you’ve been made to feel like) your mindset is the issue, I hope this episode helps you see that your mindset may not be the problem at all.
In this episode, I share two common "mindset myths" that I see in the online business space, and how they may be in the way of us making progress.
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If your work day stretches out not because you have too much to do, but because you get distracted or procrastinate, I hope you'll like listening in on this consult call with Theresa.
What came up during the consult call
-
Theresa feels that her workdays are longer than necessary and that she could spend her time more effectively
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she doesn't think that there's too much on her to-do list, but sometimes she'll get to the end of the workday and wonder where all the time went
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she always hits client work deadlines, but her own projects and business updates that would match her "big vision" get put on the back burner
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the advice of "just push through" hasn't worked for Theresa
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interruptions and transitions between tasks interfere with her momentum, she has trouble getting back into her deep creative work
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she compares herself to others who seem to be more productive, which causes some self-judgment
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is there a way to have a structured schedule that would also feel flexible?
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Theresa, the copywriter at Little Flame Creative: https://www.littleflamecreative.com
Theresa's IG: https://www.instagram.com/littleflamecreative
Mentioned in episode:
Eisenhower Matrix episode 056/blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/focus-important-tasks-project-small-business
"Do the necessary before it becomes urgent" tip by The Lazy Genius aka Kendra Adachi
If you want some help applying some of the things I talk about on this podcast, and you’d like to know more about what it looks like to team up with me, this episode is for you.
I’ve had some experiences where I’ve paid good amounts of money and spent a lot of time or effort on a course, a service or coaching program, and afterwards felt like maybe it wasn't the best investment.
Hopefully this episode helps you make a more informed decision on whether or not I’m someone you’d like to work with to make the most out of the time you have available for your business.
In this episode, I share
-
a few things that inform how I work
-
what the consult call process looks like
-
the kinds of results you could expect from our work together
-
some real client examples
-
a mistake I made with a client, and why it's important to me that our work together is collaborative
Mentioned:
Find out more and grab a consult call: https://jennahellberg.com/services
My framework, the Productivity Ecosystem: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Productivity Ecosystem podcast episode: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/057-increase-productivity-as-small-business-owner
Minimum Viable Effort blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/minimum-viable-effort-for-small-business
Consult call and client experience episodes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/category/coaching
If your brain tends to get distracted while doing deep work, and you often interrupt that work because of these ideas and to-dos that pop up, you might benefit from the tool I share in this episode: the Distractions List.
In the episode I talk about
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why it's so hard to focus and stay on task (Thanks, brain!)
-
how the Distractions List helps your brain
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the three simple steps to a great Distractions List practice
Read blog post version of this episode: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/tool-that-helps-you-stay-focused-on-deep-work
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
A listener asked how I balance my focus between the two businesses I run, and how I decide what to work on when – and I'll be answering these questions in today's episode.
If you’re a high achiever, or just in general someone who ponders how to focus your time and energy between many different things, I hope this episode inspires you.
In this episode, I share
-
the context for why my solutions work for me
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6 solutions that help me focus my time and energy between businesses while having a life, too
While these 6 things enable me to balance #AllTheThings, your solutions might be different and I'd love to support you in finding what works for you.
Shownotes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/091-how-i-make-time-for-two-businesses-and-life
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you’re not sure that how you operate in a part of your business is how you actually want to operate, this episode is for you.
.... Or if you’re just curious about what’s happened behind the scenes of my pricing lately, you might enjoy this episode, too!
I haven’t really talked about pricing here on the podcast much (or maybe ever?), but in the past little while I’ve reflected a lot on my pricing and services, so we’re going with it!
Pricing and offers fall under the design piece of your productivity ecosystem, because how you design your offers and pricing has a big impact on your business.
Shownotes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/090-got-swept-up-in-a-pricing-should
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you’ve got a lot going on and prioritizing is tricky, while at the same time you also often find yourself avoiding the tasks you’ve planned to do, I hope you’ll enjoy this consult call with Brian G. Murphy.
Because I know Brian from before, we don't spend much time talking about background stuff during this call, which differs a little bit from my usual consult calls – but I hope this give a good sense of what it's like to hop on a call with me.
During a consult, we dive into what's happening so that you can understand what's actually behind the challenges you're facing, because only then can we start coming up with solutions and action steps that address that challenge.
We covered:
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what procrastination and avoiding tasks could be a symptom of
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how not being clear on what to work on, or seeing too much on your to-do list, can cause you to "do nothing" all day (even when you'd have plenty to catch up on)
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two possible ways Brian could plan his tasks for the day/week
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how having less on the to-do list often ends up resulting in more tasks done (than staring at a long to-do list)
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worries about picking too much onto the daily to-do list (but also worrying about things falling through the cracks if the list is too short)
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concerns with themed days, especially what to do if the schedule gets thrown off track
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honoring a task you've intended to do, but don't have time for
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how a weekly structure doesn't have to remain the same forever; it can evolve as you and your business evolve
Brian on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisisbgm/
A previous consult call episode 074 with Kinsey Streib:
https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/074-coaching-call-feel-guilt-when-life-distracts-you-from-business
My productivity ecosystem summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you have a tendency to not take a break until you neeeeeed one, this episode is for you. Because taking a break only when you need it is just a band-aid, right?
You'll hear
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a BTS look into what happened when I didn't take proper time off this winter
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what I did when I realized I was in need of a break
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what I decided to do going forward based on what I learned from this experience
My productivity ecosystem summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
We've come to a point in the year when the motivation to stick to a resolution can start to fade. Whether you have trouble sticking to a new year’s resolution, or any other change you want to make to your habits or routines, these tips can help.
This episode was inspired by thoughts that popped up after I listened to an episode about New Year's resolutions on The Social Self podcast by Cassie Widders (episode #43)
In the episode, you'll hear
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four reasons why it's hard to follow through on New Year's resolutions (or changes to habits and routines)
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five ways you can make it easier on your brain to follow through on resolutions and changes
The Social Self podcast, episode 43: https://cassiewidders.co.uk/2023/01/18/new-year-new-you-or-new-pressure-setting-goals-that-work-and-feel-good/
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
During the past 3 years, I’ve had a harder time sticking to a regular schedule consistently. And I know I’m not alone – I’ve had clients and business owner friends who have said the same thing.
Often when we struggle with sticking to a schedule, it's common to think
a) "I just haven't found the right schedule" (planner, system, task app, time management tool etc), or
b) "Something's wrong with me"
The latter is especially prevalent for high achievers who used to stick to a consistent schedule, or were consistent with getting things done, but who for some reason now struggle.
In the episode, I'll share
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why the problem is not you
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while finding a schedule that fits you helps, it’s hard to stick to it if you don’t have the capacity
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where in your productivity ecosystem you can pinpoint the actual problem
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what my schedule follow-through has looked like in the past few years
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what I'm experimenting with schedule-wise in 2023
My productivity ecosystem framework summary: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
I’ve been craving time to work on the backend of my business the past week, because I want to prepare for the year before I dive into all the outward-facing marketing activities I want to do this year.
At the same time, I’m feeling the pressure to tackle the outward-facing things RIGHT AWAY. I want to plan the spring's podcast episodes, get on other people’s podcasts, do more collaborations – maybe even publish a few youtube videos since I deleted all my videos last fall. (The list goes on.)
Since I’m feeling this pull between these two energetic extremes, I figured you might also be feeling something similar.
In this episode, you'll hear me
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go all in on a nature metaphor 🌱
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give a behind-the-scenes peek into 3 things I want to improve in my business design
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share how improving things on the backend of your business helps you make faster progress when you get back to the outward-facing work
Mentioned in this episode:
Ecosystem: https://jennahellberg.com/ecosystem
Episode 055: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/055-make-faster-progress-solo-business
Blog post version of episode 055: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/grow-solo-business-faster-without-hustle-burnout
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Find current free resources here: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
✨ 3 lessons I’ve picked up in 2022 that I want to carry over into next year and beyond ✨
This time of year, there tends to be a lot of pressure to reflect on alllllll the things we wanna change.
While I’m all for a fresh start, it’s important we give ourselves credit for what we’ve already learned – because we tend to forget.
For each of the categories of my ecosystem, I challenged myself to hone in on just one lesson I’ve learned in the past year, and planned for how I’ll implement that lesson going forward.
I hope this also inspires you to identify the important lessons you’ve already learned, and how implementing what you learned could bring you the biggest relief, joy, or impact.
Thank you so much for spending your valuable time with me this past year! I appreciate you so much for listening and I hope you have a beautiful year ahead of you ✨
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
High achiever training: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
There’s a nuance that’s missing in the conversation around the trendy revenue numbers we’re supposed to hit – so I thought it might be a good thing to talk about it this time of year.
Something that drives me a bit bananas is that the messaging out in the online business world is really focused on trendy revenue numbers.
Your business finances are about more than just revenue, and there’s a lot to consider to know if the number you set as a goal is sustainable; that number shouldn’t just be an arbitrary one.
To help your revenue goals be more sustainable, in this episode I'm sharing things to consider in three different areas of your business:
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time constraints
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monetary needs
-
the other stuff you started the business for
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
High achiever training: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you’re feeling really excited about all the changes and plans you have in mind for next year, this episode will hopefully help you follow through on them in a sustainable way.
On the other hand, if you feel overwhelmed at even the thought of making big sweeping changes for the business just because a new year is coming up, I think this episode will help you feel better about wanting to take small steps toward improving your business.
In this episode, I share 6 reminders that I hope help you navigate end-of-year/new year's changes and updates in a way that feels good to you and your brain.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
High achiever training: https://jennahellberg.com/training
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
What if we didn't view balance as something we need to achieve?
The concept of work-life balance is often talked about in a way that’s unhelpful and makes it feel unattainable – especially for business owners.
Viewing balance in a different way might make it easier to experience.
In the episode, you'll hear about
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Two unhelpful "facts" about work-life balance that make it seem impossible
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A different way to view balance that makes it more accessible and easier to create
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Five things you could consider as ways to increase balance in your life as a business owner
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you’ve ever felt like making tweaks and pivots in your business makes others see you as flaky, inconsistent, incompetent, or like an imposter, this episode is for you.
In the episode, I share
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the story of how I got that judgmental voice in my head
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all kinds of things I’ve tweaked in my business(es) despite that voice
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two benefits of regularly tweaking and experimenting in your business (and life)
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Does the thought of making space for a holiday break from your business make you sweat a little?
Don’t worry, you can totally step away from your business without having to sacrifice all the hard work you’ve done so far; it just takes some planning and prep ahead of time.
The 5 tips I share in this episode help you
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reduce your workload in the week(s) leading up to your holiday break
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reduce worry and guilt about the business when you're enjoying time with family and friends
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stay away from your laptop, just like you've planned
Minimum Viable Effort blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/minimum-viable-effort-for-small-business
Blog post version of this episode: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/5-ideas-to-prep-your-small-business-for-a-holiday-break
Grab a Declutter Your To-Dos session: https://jennahellberg.com/declutter
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to send me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
It can be surprisingly hard to let go of things that you’ve put a lot of time and effort into, even when they aren’t currently serving you.
So I wanna talk about something that I did earlier this fall - I removed ALL but two of my Youtube videos. We’re talking over 100 videos that I created over the course of about 1.5 years, starting in fall of 2019.
I thought that sharing why I did this might help you with some decisions you’re making in your business when it comes to letting go of the stuff that’s been around for a while but isn’t serving you anymore – whether that's long-form content, an offer you've held onto forever, or something else that took a lot of time and effort.
Get a Declutter Your To-Dos session: https://jennahellberg.com/declutter
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
What do you do when you want to show yourself that working less doesn’t have to mean a decrease in revenue, but your monthly numbers don’t always help you out with that – and you're tempted to work a bit more to hopefully avoid a dip in your numbers, instead of stepping away from your laptop? Let's talk about a few ways that you can look at your numbers differently.
I recorded this episode as a response to a question I got during the High Achiever Experience training.
In the episode, you'll hear
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Danbee ask what to do, when you want to trust that working less doesn't equal a dip in revenue, but your numbers don't always support that theory which can make it hard to work less
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3 reasons why monthly sales numbers don't tell the full story
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5 things that can help you look at your revenue metrics through a different lens
Get the on-demand (free) High Achiever Experience training: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
So, how do you keep showing up for your business when you’re burned out? It depends.
If you’re a regular listener of Building Balance, you know that I don’t like to share super prescriptive advice here since I feel like I need to know you and your situation better before I can start to tease out solutions with you.
But what I can do here is share what are the kinds of things I’d keep in mind, or take into consideration when finding potential solutions – and I hope that these 5 questions can help you get started with managing that burned-out feeling.
Shownotes: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/076-how-do-i-show-up-for-business-when-burned-out
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you’ve ever felt frustrated about a “proven” strategy or framework not working for you, this episode can help you understand why they haven’t worked – and in which cases it might be better to work with someone who customizes their approach or the strategy to you.
In this episode, Cassie Widders of The Social Self podcast and I break down:
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why "proven" cookie-cutter strategies, frameworks, and tactics aren't a good fit for most people
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why it's so easy to get sucked into them (over and over again)
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why they might not be worth it, even if you get the result you were promised
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how to identify if [the thing you want to do/create/update] requires a more personalized approach that takes you into account, or if a cookie-cutter approach might be all you need
Cassie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassie_widders
Cassie's website: https://cassiewidders.co.uk
Listen to my guest episode on The Social Self, episode 28: https://cassiewidders.co.uk/2022/09/12/escaping-hustle-culture-jenna-hellberg
Grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
What if it’s just normal not to be able to give your business 100% of your attention all the time?
We all go through periods of time when big life stuff takes priority, while the business might not get as much love as it usually does. It doesn't mean that you're not doing a good job, that you're not amazing at what you do, or that you don't care about your clients.
If you go through seasons in your business when you feel guilty because you’re either
a) not giving it quite as much attention as you’d like to, or
b) you’re not as productive as you’d like to be,
I hope this coaching chat with Kinsey Stribe of Feel Good Social helps you give yourself a break. Within a short span of time, she’s sold her home, moved, and planned a wedding – which has affected how “productive” she’s been on the business front.
We chatted about a healthy, non-toxic way to shift your thoughts from worry and guilt – plus a concrete way you can clarify which tasks to keep up with in your business when life is busy.
This topic is pretty common for my coaching calls. Sometimes we spend a good chunk of time understanding why my client is feeling the way they’re feeling, or behaving the way they’re behaving. Often understanding what’s going on unlocks either creativity and energy in them, or it’s what they need to talk through in order to feel good about giving themselves a break instead of being “on” 24/7.
Catch Kinsey's podcast Feel Good Social here: https://feelgoodsocial.com/podcast
Say Hey to Kinsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelgoodsocial/
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions right now, and you're busy all day but don't see the progress or success you’d like to, it might be time to reduce your workload.
In this episode, I share the many, many benefits of a reduced workload – and you might be able to enjoy them without sacrificing revenue or the quality of your services.
Go here for a transcript: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/073-you-but-with-a-reduced-workload
Episode mentioned 059: Jenny's client experience interview: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/059-reduce-busy-work-as-small-business-owner
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Does hitting a revenue goal matter, if the way you made it happen isn’t sustainable?
$10k months (or 6-figure businesses) are talked about a lot in the online business space.
In this episode, I share the cautionary tale of the first $10k month in my photography business. I'll talk about two things that made it unsustainable in terms of replicating it over and over, as well as whether or not I needed to bring in $10k/month in the first place.
Go here for a transcript: https://jennahellberg.com/episodes/046-my-first-10k-month-wasnt-sustainable
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
What do you do, when there’s a marketing activity you love doing in your business, but it takes up more time than you’d like it to?
If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I like to declutter tasks and activities in my business that aren’t making an impact. So today I thought that I’d share the three questions that are helping me make a decluttering decision I’m making in my business, which I hope will be helpful as you’re making hard decluttering decisions in your business.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Grab my audio course to figure out why you're not following through on the things you want to do: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Discounted course rate for podcast listeners through this link (works at least until end of day Sept 14, 2022 Pacific): https://dark-fire-5224.ck.page/products/audio-course?promo=BALANCE
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Popping into your feed with a bit of an announcement:
Instant Insight, the audio course I've been working on over the summer is finally ready!
Course details: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Discounted rate for podcast listeners through this link (works at least until end of day Sept 14, 2022 Pacific): https://dark-fire-5224.ck.page/products/audio-course?promo=BALANCE
In the lessons I cover
- why nothing’s actually wrong with you when you can’t follow through on the things you want to do
- why being a high achiever may be part of what got you into trouble with your productivity
- how being human affects us all in terms of getting things done and following through
- a holistic approach to identifying what’s causing your struggles (we dive into my ecosystem)
- insight into why some solutions you’ve tried haven’t worked (even if they fit a part of the ecosystem)
- what your next steps are, when you understand what’s going on
If you’re struggling with getting things done, with staying focused, or with just trying to manage all the things you need to do, this course can help you uncover and understand what’s going on. Understanding what's going on is the first step to figuring out solutions that will actually work for you long term.
When we struggle with following through on what we want to do, we tend to ask ourselves "What's wrong with me?"
In this episode, I walk you through why focusing on that question often isn't helpful, and what you could ask yourself instead to find better answers – and solutions.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my audio course to figure out why you're not following through on the things you want to do: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Are you setting goals – or making wishes?
That's what I'll dive into in today's podcast episode. You'll learn 3 reasons why traditional goal setting can set us up for disappointment, and a different way to set goals that you have more control over.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my audio course to figure out why you're not following through on the things you want to do: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
What if instead of feeling bad about not being productive on your first days back from vacation, you’d take the opportunity to improve how you operate?
In this episode I talk about a couple of things that can make it hard to settle back into work, even if you're generally someone who's ambitious and gets things done. Then I'll share 8 ideas for how you could ease back into work while preparing for the coming months – before you're back in a routine.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my course: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
This week I’ve got something special for you – I’ve asked a few fellow business owners to come on the podcast to share a tip that helps them spend their work time more productively, so that you can pick up what sounds good to you and save yourself some time.
You'll hear from...
KINSEY STRIBE, social media marketing expert and host of the Feel Good Social podcast****
Website: Whttps://feelgoodsocial.com/
Freebies: https://feelgoodsocial.com/freebies
STACIE MITCHELL, coach and host of the Something Even Better podcast
Website: https://www.staciemitchell.com/
SEO cheatsheet: https://www.staciemitchell.com/seo
DEVIN LEE, Online Business Manager
Website: https://www.devinlee.com/
Elevated client journey workbook: https://cheerful-knitter-5221.ck.page/cab42e3100
CASSIE PATON of Mettle&Tonic, copywriter
Website and free home page assessment: https://mettleandtonic.com/
SOLVEIG PETCHY aka Petchy, brand strategist and host of the Brand it! with Petchy podcast
Website: https://petchy.co/
Branding checklist: https://petchy.co/checklist/
And then there's me – JENNA HELLBERG, coach and host of Building Balance
Website: https://jennahellberg.com/
Free planning guide: https://jennahellberg.com/plan
What if there was a simple way you could shift your thinking, so that you would feel more capable as you grow your business?
Psychologist Jenna is by the mic today!
I’m going to share a mindset tool that you can use to set yourself up for resilience in your business – and well, in your life. And in case you’re worried that this will be one of those icky toxic mindset things… Well, this is not that. Please stick with me.
The article I referred to in the episode: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/04/psychologist-shares-the-top-skill-that-sets-mentally-strong-kids-from-those-who-give-up-easily.html
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my course: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
I’m going to share a few things that I wish I had known about being a solopreneur. I probably still would’ve started my photography business even if I knew these things up front – but I would’ve approached business differently. At least knowing these things now helps me think about business and the things I do differently – and I hope they’ll be helpful to you too.
Mentioned in this episode:
Episode 019: Productivity for entrepreneurs and creatives
Episode 023: Frustrations of a business owner: results don’t match efforts
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my course: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
This episode is part 1 of a conversation I had with Stacie Mitchell (Something Even Better podcast). In part 1, we discuss how social media marketing is costing small business owners in a few other ways than just time. Read transcript-ish here: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/social-media-marketing-and-the-true-costs-for-small-business-with-stacie-mitchell
In part 2 we talk about how you can figure out where your marketing time is best spent, whether that’s on social media or elsewhere. We also dive into what we’ve found works best for us and why –– super helpful to listen to especially if you’ve been feeling a bit crappy about or disappointed in social media lately.
Find part 2 on the Something Even Better podcast or Stacie’s blog:
https://www.staciemitchell.com/blog/how-to-market-yourself-without-social-media-with-jenna-hellberg
Stacie's SEO cheatsheet and training: https://www.staciemitchell.com/seo
Stacie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/staciemitchell/
Jenna's free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Jenna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg/
If you often find that things don’t go to plan, or that you’re not getting to the work you’d actually like to do, there are a few little things you can shift in the way you plan that could make a big difference.
I didn’t want to bring you just another episode with planning or productivity tips that you’ve heard a bazillion times before or that you can easily find on Google. I wanted to instead talk about a few things that I haven’t, or that have been very rarely mentioned in productivity or time management resources I've seen.
A side note: even though the title of the episode is “common planning mistakes”, I’m not here to say that you’re doing something “wrong”. The three things I’m about to share with you are things that are the result of how planning and time management are often talked about, especially in in hustle culture, which is what many of us have been subjected to and thus it’s the way we think we should be doing things.
So I’m hoping that you don’t feel like I’m pointing fingers at mistakes, but rather shining a light on just a few key things you could shift to make planning, and sticking to plans, work better for you.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Grab my course: https://jennahellberg.com/course
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Feeling the pressure to get things done can actually make us less productive, not more. So what can we do to reduce the pressure?
In the episode, you'll learn an uncommon approach to batching, tips for making your to-dos feel manageable, and a trick that helps you feel less pressure even if you don't change anything in your plans as a result.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Current free resources: https://jennahellberg.com/resources
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note, or a review for the podcast? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
So far in the summer refire, I’ve talked about how you can create a schedule that works for you, and I’ve hopefully helped you shift our thoughts from feeling like schedules and plans are boring to seeing just how helpful they are in making it possible for you to spend time on the things you actually want to spend time on.
I wanted to bring in this episode, as I 100% believe that it’s important for your productivity that you feel enjoyment in your workweeks – not just on the weekends or not just when you get to go on your once-a-year vacation.
The topic of enjoyment falls under the WHOLENESS part of the productivity ecosystem, because research shows that when we feel well, when we’re happy, we do so much better with everything we put our energy into.
And if you have no idea what I’m talking about when I mention the productivity ecosystem, you can go back a few episodes (to episode 31) to get the basics, or read the blog post:
https://jennahellberg.com/blog/increase-productivity-solo-business-owner
Giveaway
You can win a one-hour pick-my-brain session with me. You can ask me aaaanything when it comes to your productivity, schedule, work-life balance – anything within the realm of things I usually talk about here on the podcast – and get personalized advice.
There are two ways you can enter the giveaway:
-
Share about the podcast with a friend or on your social media, and either send a screenshot of the share to my email jenna@jennahellberg.com or DMs, or share about in IG story and tag me @thejennahellberg so that I can see. (If your account is private I may not see the story; in this case, send a screenshot of it to my DMs)
-
Write a review about Building Balance on Apple podcasts, and send me a screenshot of the review. If you don't have access to Apple podcasts, you could leave me/the podcast a note here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you do both, you get two draft spots in the giveaway.
Out of everyone who shares and/or reviews within the month of June 2022, I’ll pick a winner on July 1st and get in touch with them (hopefully you!) by July 5th to schedule the pick-my-brain session.
In the last summer refire, I walked you through how you can create a schedule that works for you, your life, and your business. For some, creating a schedule might actually feel pretty fun and exciting, BUT following through on it might be hard, or it might feel boring to have your weeks planned out.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through 8 ways that planning and routines and schedules and structure can make your life more flexible and enjoyable. I'll also talk about why many of us can feel like schedules and structure just don’t work for us.
I thought that this topic falls well under the SISU part of the productivity ecosystem, meaning that motivation is a key ingredient in being productive especially when we don’t feel like sticking to plans.
And if you have no idea what I’m talking about when I mention the productivity ecosystem, you can go back a few episodes (to episode 31) to get the basics, or read the blog post:
https://jennahellberg.com/blog/increase-productivity-solo-business-owner
Having structure and routines in place is suuuper helpful in training your brain to learn when to be productive, and when it’s ok to just relax and breathe. If we don’t have clarity on how we want to divide up our time, there’s a risk that we kinda try to work, or think about work stuff all the time, but maybe don’t always spend that time productively – and then we feel like we just have to keep putting off winding down for the day.
So, let’s dive into the summer refire.
Podcast episode mentioned in this episode: https://jennahellberg.com/podcast/005-three-reasons-why-sticking-to-plans-is-hard
Giveaway
You can win a one-hour pick-my-brain session with me. You can ask me aaaanything when it comes to your productivity, schedule, work-life balance – anything within the realm of things I usually talk about here on the podcast – and get personalized advice.
There are two ways you can enter the giveaway:
-
Share about the podcast with a friend or on your social media, and either send a screenshot of the share to my email jenna@jennahellberg.com or DMs, or share about in IG story and tag me @thejennahellberg so that I can see. (If your account is private I may not see the story; in this case, send a screenshot of it to my DMs)
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Write a review about Building Balance on Apple podcasts, and send me a screenshot of the review. If you don't have access to Apple podcasts, you could leave me/the podcast a note here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you do both, you get two draft spots in the giveaway.
Out of everyone who shares and/or reviews within the month of June 2022, I’ll pick a winner on July 1st and get in touch with them (hopefully you!) by July 5th to schedule the pick-my-brain session.
This first episode of the summer refire is all about how you can create a schedule that fits you, your life, and your business.
This episode would fall under the DESIGN part of my productivity ecosystem, because planning for routines that help you reach your goals is ra key part of designing your business operations in a way that helps you be more productive.
And if you have no idea what I’m talking about when I mention the productivity ecosystem, you can go back a few episodes (to episode 31) to get the basics, or read the blog post:
https://jennahellberg.com/blog/increase-productivity-solo-business-owner
The start of a new season is a great time to reflect on, and maybe adjust, your schedule. For many of us, the season changing means that our time availability, responsibilities, and even energy change. I hope that you enjoy this summer refire, and that even if you’ve listened to it before, you get a nugget from it that you haven’t picked up on before.
Giveaway information
You can win a one-hour pick-my-brain session with me. You can ask me aaaanything when it comes to your productivity, schedule, work-life balance – anything within the realm of things I usually talk about here on the podcast – and get personalized advice.
There are two ways you can enter the giveaway:
-
Share about the podcast with a friend or on your social media, and either send a screenshot of the share to my email jenna@jennahellberg.com or DMs, or share about in IG story and tag me @thejennahellberg so that I can see. (If your account is private I may not see the story; in this case, send a screenshot of it to my DMs)
-
Write a review about Building Balance on Apple podcasts, and send me a screenshot of the review. If you don't have access to Apple podcasts, you could leave me/the podcast a note here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you do both, you get two draft spots in the giveaway.
Out of everyone who shares and/or reviews within the month of June 2022, I’ll pick a winner on July 1st and get in touch with them (hopefully you!) by July 5th to schedule the pick-my-brain session.
Let's start with an announcement for June
I’m working on something kiinda big for you! I’m going to create an audio course for solopreneurs who have trouble sticking to their plans, or following through on the impactful tasks and projects that they know would propel their business forwards. Or, who want to spend more time outside of their work but have trouble sticking to those plans, too.
So because this course will be a time-consuming project, I decided to not create new podcast episodes while I'm working on it. Instead I’ll republish three episodes that have aired in the first season of this podcast (when it was still called Make Your Day.)
I’m calling these episodes Summer Refires. In pottery, you may want to "refire" your piece sometimes because a glaze didn’t turn out quite right the first time around in the kiln, or when you simply want to create some deeper glaze layers on your piece. And that’s exactly what I want to do with these episodes I’m refiring – I want to bring another layer to them by adding some comments to the episodes. I also think that arranging these three episodes together gives them more depth.
The 2nd thing I wanted to talk about is a summer giveaway
You can win a one-hour pick-my-brain session with me. You can ask me aaaanything when it comes to your productivity, schedule, work-life balance – anything within the realm of things I usually talk about here on the podcast – and get personalized advice.
There are two ways you can enter the giveaway:
-
Share about the podcast with a friend or on your social media, and either send a screenshot of the share to my email jenna@jennahellberg.com or DMs, or share about in IG story and tag me @thejennahellberg so that I can see. (If your account is private I may not see the story; in this case, send a screenshot of it to my DMs)
-
Write a review about Building Balance on Apple podcasts, and send me a screenshot of the review. If you don't have access to Apple podcasts, you could leave me/the podcast a note here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
If you do both, you get two draft spots in the giveaway.
Out of everyone who shares and/or reviews within the month of June 2022, I’ll pick a winner on July 1st and get in touch with them (hopefully you!) by July 5th to schedule the pick-my-brain session.
Have you thought about how saying NO could benefit your business, and through that, you? I asked Petchy come walk us through that in this week's episode.
What we talked about:
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how saying NO more benefits your business and brand
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what kinds of things you could say NO to
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3 tips that make it easier to say NO without feeling crappy about it
Solveig Petch [aka Petchy] is a brand strategist and identity designer who helps purpose-driven business owners build brands their own way; without compromising their integrity or practicing unethical business tactics. Her home office is in rural Norway, but she works with businesses all over the world. She helps business owners discover and define their brands’ unique purpose and personality, find the confidence to own their stuff — and tap into their uniqueness to attract more of the clients they can’t wait to work with.
Petchy's website: https://petchy.co/
Petchy's branding checklist: https://petchy.co/checklist/
Brand it! with Petchy podcast: https://petchy.co/podcast/
My guest episode on Petchy's podcast: https://petchy.co/shownotes/058/
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
https://www.instagram.com/petchy.co/
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
A business coach can help you grow and evolve your small business, so that you can move closer to the life and success you’d like to experience. A great coach can help you focus on your strengths while identifying areas in your business that could be shifted to see progress.
Whether you’re looking to update a thing or two about your business, or you’re looking for someone to team up with long-term, I'm sharing 6 things that I believe are important to keep in mind as you’re choosing a business coach.
Above everything else, I hope that after this episode you’ll be thinking about what it is that you want out of coaching, so that when the time comes, you’re better equipped to find someone who’s gonna be a great fit for you.
And if you feel like you’re spending too much time on too many things in your business, and you want to free up time for more revenue-generating work or to build more balance into your life without sacrificing your revenue, I’d love to work with you to sort it out.
Blog post version: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/consider-when-choosing-small-business-coach
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services – and you also just send me an email or a DM on Instagram to ask questions.
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Mini series part 7: What if you could cut the time that you’re currently spending on marketing and admin tasks in half, so that you could spend more time on your paid client work, on your dreamy business updates, or just free that up for your life outside of work?
During the past 6 episodes, I’ve been diving into what productivity actually looks like for business owners and how we can keep growing our businesses without having to resort to hustle and overwork.
But I know that it can feel really hard to trust that it’s possible to work less and to simplify, or even to let go of some tasks. It can feel like that would be the opposite of being productive, and that it would affect your income and your progress in a negative way.
So I asked Jenny to come on the podcast with me to talk about her experience. She’s an architectural designer based in Cape Town, South Africa. We teamed up to simplify and streamline some of the things in her business that were taking up more time and energy than she’d like them to, because she needed to spend more time on invoicable client work plus she wanted to get her weekends back.
It’s been about 6 months since she did an intensive with me, and I was excited to get to chat to her about what’s going on and what changes she’s made since we worked together. I hope that you’ll also walk away with some helpful nuggets from her process.
We covered:
– why Jenny needed to shift from a 6-day workweek to a 5-day one
– the desire to reduce her work hours while still increasing her income
– the three simple shifts she made to her most time-consuming marketing and admin tasks to make this plan a reality
– whether or not these three shifts felt doable, and were they enough?
– how these shifts have impacted other things in her business and life
– realizing that there's always a different way to approach work, even when it doesn't feel like it
– seeing that running a business without hustle and feeling balanced is possible
Transcript-ish: https://jennahellberg.com/podcast/033-reduce-busy-work-as-small-business-owner
Jenny's website: https://redcatdesign.co.za
Jenny's IG: https://www.instagram.com/redcatdesignct
Check out my 1:1 coaching services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Say Hei on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg/
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Mini series part 6.
The tricky part with productivity, or not being productive, is that we often think that we just don’t have enough willpower to do the things, so we think we need to push harder. But usually that's not a solution that's sustainable.
Feeling like you have to push yourself a ton (but you just can’t push yourself enough to get eeeverything done), that’s a sign that your productivity ecosystem is off-balance.
Let’s talk about what that might look like and what you can do to strengthen the parts that could use some work.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a love note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Solo business mini series part 5 – introducing the Productivity Ecosystem!
In the past few episodes I’ve talked about why things tend to get complicated in solo businesses, how focusing on your most impactful tasks help us make faster progress in our businesses without hustle, and why it’s challenging to prioritize our most impactful tasks.
So today I want to talk about how you can make it easier to be more productive, aka prioritize impactful activities and projects that you feel would make a difference for you or your business.
Last summer, I realized that there are three important parts of the Finnish lifestyle that support productivity and work-life balance, and I’ve just recently had some new epiphanies around it – so even if you’ve heard me talk about these before, I hope you’ll listen to this one because I’ve developed it a good bit and I feel like I’ve finally cracked the code on the SISU part of this framework.
Based on my Finnish upbringing, my experience as a business owner, and my training as a psychologist, I’ve developed a three-part Productivity Ecosystem that supports your productivity and helps you keep showing up long-term for your business without hustle.
Written version of this episode: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/increase-productivity-solo-business-owner
5 activities that are impactful for business owners blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/grow-solo-business-faster-without-hustle-burnout
Why it's hard to focus on impactful tasks (aka your brain on the Eisenhower Matrix) blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/focus-important-tasks-project-small-business
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a love note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Solo business mini series part 4.
You may have heard of the Eisenhower Matrix about 170 times before, because it’s a tool that many have found helpful for prioritizing their most important work and working more effectively.
Time management experts talk about how you should focus on the tasks that are important but not urgent (and I agree), because that’s the stuff that helps you make progress.
But they rarely address why those types of tasks are challenging to follow through on to begin with – even if you’ve blocked out time for them.
So it can feel frustrating when everything else feels more urgent, or when you’ve got the time but somehow you just can’t bring yourself to do it.
In this week’s episode of the Building Balance podcast, I break down what your brain has to say about tasks according to the Eisenhower Matrix.
And as just a nice little bonus, you'll find out why nothing’s actually wrong with you when it feels challenging to tackle impactful tasks.
Blog post version of the previous episode: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/grow-solo-business-faster-without-hustle-burnout
Blog post version of this episode: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/focus-important-tasks-project-small-business
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Want to leave me a note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Solo business mini series part 3.
I’m just gonna give it away in this very first sentence; the one key shift that helps you make faster progress is to spend your time on tasks and activities that make the biggest impact.
There are five types of activities that I see as the most crucial ones that make an impact for small business owners, which I'll dive into in this episode.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot of the episode and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Want to leave me a love note? You can do that here: https://jennahellberg.com/note
Solo business mini series part 2.
Running a business of one feels in theory like it should be fairly simple. So how did things get so complicated?
If you’re like me, you started your business to do the thing you love doing, while having balance, freedom, and flexibility in your life. But in reality, maybe it hasn’t turned out quite like that.
Maybe you keep pushing through with to-dos late at night instead of winding down for the day at a decent hour.
Maybe you’re prioritizing business tasks over time with your loved ones, or hobbies, or even health.
Maybe you can’t stop thinking about work even when you’re out with friends, or when you finally get a quiet moment to yourself all you can think about is what else you need to do for your business.
Today I wanna talk about 6 reasons small businesses can get so complicated, and why tasks start piling up (and piling up fast!)
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Resources I mentioned in the episode:
Leidy Klotz’s book: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less
Leidy Klotz’s interview on the How To Be Awesome At Your Job Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/684-achieving-more-by-tapping-into-science-less-leidy/id1106548091?i=1000528577751
Solo business mini series part 1.
It can feel daunting to reduce your work hours to build more balance into your life as a business owner, if you still need to grow your business and generate more income.
Even if your schedule is stuffed with client work (and with everything else that comes with wearing all the hats in your business), you can probably reclaim some of your time for the things you'd like to make space for – without sacrificing your revenue.
It starts with acknowledging where you are right now, so you know where you're building from.
This episode is a bit of a pep talk – an appetizer to what's to come over the next few weeks.
Don’t forget to grab a screenshot and share/say Hei on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Would you pause your regular weekly business activities, if it meant that you’d have time for creative thinking and could solve a huge thing in your business that would benefit you long term?
I did a lot less stuff in my business in the past week, to let myself think and ponder about the big picture, my messaging, and my positioning – because my coaching business is growing slower than I'd like it to.
And I wanted to share with you what I learned after having stepped away for a while.
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter excessive marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
This week I'm chatting with my best business friend Lorin Galloway, a brand strategist and designer based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ever since I've known her, she's had great boundaries and structure in place in her business and family life, which is why I thought she would have interesting things to share on the podcast.
Originally I was going to name the episode “Boundaries and structure in business with Lorin Galloway”. But after we chatted it didn’t feel like the title did justice to the main message of the episode: how it’s possible to honor your humanity while running a business.
In the episode, we chatted about:
– How Lorin follows the ebb and flow of life, business, and parenting so that she can honor her humanity while running her business
– Which boundaries and structures she has in place in her business
– What it looks like to experience balance as a business owner
– How she incorporated taking good care of herself into her life when she realized that it was missing
– How she defines success in business (Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with a 7-figure USD paycheck)
Lorin's website: https://www.loringalloway.com
Lorin's Brand Messaging Guide: https://www.loringalloway.com/brand-messaging-checklist
Lorin's Pop-Up Design Week (she's giving a great discount on this new service for the first few to sign up): https://www.loringalloway.com/pop-up
Lorin runs a full-service brand and website design studio specializing in bringing intimacy to your story and message through meaningful and thoughtful visual details, so that you can grow confidence, clarity, and connection in your business.
Today I’m going to talk about some psychological phenomena, some human tendencies, that might be making you feel like the successes you’ve seen so far haven’t really had the impact you had hoped for.
When you understand why the highs of your business accomplishments don’t last, you can be more intentional about what you spend time on and make more sustainable changes to your happiness level.
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
If you moved through life with the experience that when you put in the work, you also see results and rewards, being a business owner can get a bit frustrating sometimes.
At first, I talk about what could be going on when that frustration feels extra strong, because when you understand it you can start to be a bit more understanding towards yourself and your situation.
And after that, I talk about what I find helpful when this frustration shows up. Sound cool?
Check out my 1:1 services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
What would it look like if productivity and work-life balance could coexist? In this episode I'll share how you can use the three pillars of the Finnish lifestyle to make it work: good design, wholeness, and sisu.
The podcast episodes I mentioned:
https://jennahellberg.com/podcast/018-finnish-way-to-get-things-done-while-feeling-happy
https://jennahellberg.com/podcast/025-goal-setting-for-sustainable-business-growth
https://jennahellberg.com/podcast/001-redefining-what-business-success-means-to-you
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Find out more about my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
If you’re feeling heavy because of what’s going on in the world, whether that’s in your corner of the world or somewhere far from it, I wanted to record a special episode for you.
On Thursday last week I shared an IG post with a few tips with the go-to ways that I try to support myself when I'm not feeling quite like myself. That post seemed to resonate with people which tells me that people really needed that kind of support right now.
In this podcast, I'm going to dive deeper into the 7 ideas that I shared in the IG post, and share a few more thoughts that popped up during the weekend that didn't make it into that post.
The original IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaYDXIiP4cB/
Let me introduce you to my first-ever podcast guest, Stacie Mitchell. Stacie helps people quit careers, jobs, and other things that no longer fit them – even social media! She's the host of the Something Even Better podcast, and is based in Colorado.
Recently she published an episode where she covered truths about entrepreneurship and working for someone else.
The episode got me really excited, and I thought it would be really fun and interesting to talk to her about all the things that she covered – and realized it would make a cool podcast episode to share.
Listen to hear
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common myths around entrepreneurship and why it's sold to us as an identity
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who benefits from selling this dream of entrepreneurship
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how arrival fallacy and summit syndrome can affect how you feel about success in business
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how you can start looking at entrepreneurship with a more realistic eye
We recorded this episode a week before the invasion, and have talked about whether or not this is a good time to have the episode air –– and decided to stick to the original schedule. We hope the discussion is something interesting to listen to if you want to give your brain something else to chew on for an hour. ❤️
Stacie's website: https://www.staciemitchell.com
Something Even Better podcast: https://www.staciemitchell.com/podcast
Stacie's Quit Social Media resource: https://www.staciemitchell.com/social
Stacie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staciemitchell/
Jenna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejennahellberg
I don’t talk about productivity a lot because of how closely linked it is to hustle culture, and I don't appreciate the way productivity is usually talked about.
But so many of the business owners I talk to tell me that they feel like they’re not productive enough, that I figured it would be worth addressing.
If traditional productivity isn't a helpful model for business owners and creatives – what is? Let's talk about it.
Get the Instant Relief guide that helps you declutter marketing tasks: https://jennahellberg.com/guide
Find out more about my services: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Miniseries part 2: I share the weekly practice that helps me feel calmer and in control of my time and energy for the week.
Spending 20 minutes on a practice of your own at the start of the week can save you time, energy, and headaches.
Get the (free) PDF with quarterly, monthly, and weekly CEO review and planning prompts: https://jennahellberg.com/ceo
Miniseries part 2: I share the monthly practice that helps me make decisions according to results and lessons from the past month. Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, I can see what has worked and adjust my actions accordingly.
Get the (free) PDF with quarterly, monthly, and weekly CEO review and planning prompts: https://jennahellberg.com/ceo
Miniseries part 1: I share the quarterly reviewing and planning practice that helps me align my business to work with and for me, instead of molding myself to someone else’s way of doing what I do.
Things in life and business can change quickly, so refreshing your goals, plans, and business throughout the year allows you to be more flexible than doing it only at the end of each year.
Get the (free) PDF with quarterly, monthly, and weekly CEO review and planning prompts: https://jennahellberg.com/ceo
Minimum Viable Effort blog post mentioned: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/minimum-viable-effort-to-do-list-busy-seasons
How often do you think about what your role is as the owner/CEO and the main talent in your business, and do you get to spend most of your time on those two roles – or does a lot of your time go by as a supporting cast member?
Find out more about my 1:1 intensive: https://jennahellberg.com/intensive
Get the (free) Less Work, More Impact ebook: https://jennahellberg.com/ebook
It can be really tempting to try and tackle all the things at once, but it might lead to feeling like you don’t really have time for anything.
I’ve noticed a lot of benefits from pacing myself, even if I don’t always want to when I’m in that super motivated planning mode.
In this episode, I'll share some ideas for what you could consider as you're deciding what to tackle first, as well as how you can make space for those big picture projects without dropping everything else.
Find out more about how we can work together: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Grab a free connection call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get the (free) Less Work, More Impact ebook: https://jennahellberg.com/ebook
Are you growing, scaling, or maintaining right now – and how does that impact what to spend your time and resources on?
What are the differences between growing and scaling, and why is it important sometimes to just maintain the current level or revenue?
That’s what I’m diving into in this episode.
Find out more about how we can work together: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Grab a free connection call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get the (free) Less Work, More Impact ebook: https://jennahellberg.com/ebook
It's tempting to give our business all our time and energy, because we're sure that it'll bring success our way faster.
But what if that's unsustainable and doesn't actually lead to success?
What if that trains our brain to overwork beyond our wanted time frame?
In this week's episode, I'll dive into how you can allocate your time more sustainably so that you can pace yourself and experience work-life balance on your way to success.
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Find out more about how we can work together: https://jennahellberg.com/services
Grab a free connection call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get the (free) Less Work, More Impact ebook: https://jennahellberg.com/ebook
What could you learn about and change in your business, if you took a look back at the last year?
In this episode, I walk you through some of my own takeaways from this year and then I wanna talk through a few things that I’m going to change for 2022.
Grab a free call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get your Your Impactful Year workbook: www.jennahellberg.com/series
Get your Less Work, More Impact ebook: https://jennahellberg.com/ebook
Grab a free call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get your Your Impactful Year workbook: www.jennahellberg.com/series
I help business owners and creatives simplify and streamline tasks and operations in their business, so that they can work more effectively and focus on fewer tasks – the most impactful ones. This sets them up to reduce the number of hours they work, and frees up time and space to do things outside of their business.
Shifting these tangible things can be pretty straightforward, but the changes aren't always easy to live out in practice because of how our brains are built.
I wanted to take some time to talk about this since you might be planning to work fewer hours next year to build some more balance into your life as a business owner.
I know a bunch of creatives who feel like planning makes life too boring or rigid – that’s it’s nicer to be able to be spontaneous and not be tied to plans.
There might be people out there who do better if they go by whatever they feel like in the moment. But based on how our brains are built and on my chats with creatives and business owners, those people are few.
If you think that having your days planned upfront makes them boring, but you often feel frazzled and overwhelmed throughout your work week, this episode is for you.
Grab a free call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get your Your Impactful Year workbook: www.jennahellberg.com/series
Accompanying blog post: https://jennahellberg.com/blog/10-brain-friendly-planning-ideas-for-business-owners
Grab a free call: www.jennahellberg.com/connect
Get a free guide with a weekly planning practice: www.jennahellberg.com/plan
If you struggle and feel stressed, frazzled, or overwhelmed throughout the day because you don’t know what to work on and everything feels equally important in the moment, it’ll probably help you out to have some kind of planning practice in place. Planning and getting a bit more organized really helps free up your brain to focus.
Because we're all different, what works for one person might not work for the next person.
I'm sharing these planning ideas with you today, so that you can mix and match, tweak and refine things to create your own structure that allows you to shine and succeed – while having plenty of time over to be spontaneous.
Your Impactful Year series, part 5. Get the workbook >> https://jennahellberg.com/series
In this last part, you'll create a big picture view of your year. Mapping out your year helps you have a sense of direction, know what to work towards each month, and remember important things to account for.
When you plan in a flexible, human-friendly way, you can feel more confident that your business isn’t gonna collapse if you have a day or week that doesn’t go as planned, because you still have your big picture to guide you AND you’ve got a plan for the most important activities you want to focus on.
Your Impactful Year series, part 4. Get the workbook >> https://jennahellberg.com/series
In part 4, you're going to decide how you'll support yourself throughout the year, and what the key activities are that you're going to focus on in your business.
When you have a plan that takes you and your key activities into account, business tends to become easier, you make steadier progress towards your goals, and you have more time, and space, and energy for… everything.
Your Impactful Year series, part 3. Get the workbook >> https://jennahellberg.com/series
Now that you’ve got a clearer vision of what you’d like your work to look like and what success in your business means to you, you can start making decisions around how your business can support that vision.
Your Impactful Year series, part 2. Get the workbook >> https://jennahellberg.com/series
In part 2, you’re going to reconnect with what you'd like your life to look like as a business owner.
How do you want your business to support your life, how would you like your work to look and feel, and what does this mean in terms of salary and revenue needs?
Your Impactful Year series, part 1. Get the workbook >> https://jennahellberg.com/series
When we're busy with the day-to-day operations of business, we can lose perspective and drift off a bit from how we wanted our work to look and feel. Taking a regular step back to get a big picture view and to do some planning helps you simplify and prioritize, so that you can free up time and space for the things you'd love to spend more of your time on.
In part 1, you’re going to review the past year. It’s important to reflect back on how things have been before we jump into making plans for the future. Learning from the past year helps you make more intentional decisions about how to move forward, and it allows you to refine what you already have in place.
You might feel like it doesn’t make sense to do much planning for the next 12 months, because over the past couple of years life hasn’t been exactly predictable. But planning is the BEST thing you can do when it feels like things are up in the air.
- Next week, Dec 6-10, the Your Impactful Year series will go live. Head over to jennahellberg.com/series to sign up for the accompanying worksheets.
Popping in to give you a heads up about my upcoming podcast series Your Impactful Year, so that you can block off some space in your schedule to get yourself and your business prepared for next year.
In the series, I’ll dive into things that you might want to consider and plan for in your business, so that you can focus on tasks that make an impact and spend time away from your desk.
It’s easy to get bogged down with the everyday to-dos and the distractions that pop up, so taking the time to reconnect with what you want your life to look like as a business owner is important.
Each podcast episode comes with an accompanying worksheet, so head over to jennahellberg.com/series to sign up for them.
The series goes live Dec 6 - Dec 10, 2021.
We often think like we need to get more done, that we need to catch up – and THEN we’ll feel less overwhelmed and be able to take a break. It might feel like if you take a break, if you pause, you’ll end up getting less done. It feels counter-intuitive, but taking breaks can actually help you make progress faster.
In this episode I'm going to share four different types of pauses that business owners – and all humans, really – can benefit from.
P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the Your Impactful Year series, happening on Dec 6 - Dec 10, 2021. (If you're listening to this later no worries, my plan is to keep this series up indefinitely.)
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This is part 2 of thoughts and tips that I hope will help reduce the risk of business burnout, with emphasis on the engineering term "fatigue failure".
Just like in engineering there are ways to reduce the risk of fatigue failure, we can use good design in our lives and businesses to reduce the risk of lacking motivation, burnout, and quitting.
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This is part 1 of thoughts and tips that I hope will help reduce the risk of business burnout, with emphasis on failure fatigue and a psychological phenomenon called learned helplessness.
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The psychologist in me was very excited to record this episode; let’s talk about what it means to "be" a high achiever, and how that might impact your business.
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In light of the new name of the podcast, I thought it would be fitting to share a few things that I’ve done to build more balance into my life as a business owner.
And you can implement these 5 ideas if they resonate with you, too!
As I share these things with you, I want you to know that these are things I do strive to practice as much as possible, but I of course don’t get them “right” all the time. And that’s ok.
Being intentional part-time feels better to me than how my life would look if I wasn’t being more intentional. I mean, I know from experience!
You don’t need to do a perfect version of what you want balance to look like to be a happier human.
Cycle planning blog post I mentioned in the episode
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The prevailing message out there is that we should be chasing 6, 7, 8-figure businesses – and to do whatever it takes. Which (not surprisingly) is a recipe for burnout, damaged relationships, and ultimately not feeling the satisfaction we were looking for.
But what would it look like to experience success in your business, if it was up to you and only you?
Spoiler alert! It is up to you.
You get to decide your own version of business success – and in this episode, I share a few things I thought of when I recently redefined what success looks like to me in this coaching business.
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Goodbye, Make Your Day podcast – Hello, Building Balance.
A few years ago, I was putting all I had into building my photography business. This came at a cost to my health, I was missing out on the freedom and flexibility I thought I would have as a business owner, and the behind-the-scenes of my business kiiiinda felt like an overwhelming mess.
In 2018 I needed to find a way to grow my business without hustling and stretching myself so thin. I figured out small shifts I could make to simplify my business and run it with more ease, which allowed me to make space for all the things I love doing away from my desk. And now I help other creatives and small business owners do the same.
Hei – my name is Jenna, and this is Building Balance. On this podcast, I dig into ideas, strategies, and tools around how you can increase your time freedom as a business owner and make real progress without overworking. These ideas are based on a mix of my Nordic perspective, my education as a psychologist, and my personal experience as a business owner.
The loudest voices out there are saying that we have to be willing to sacrifice our health, our sleep, our relationships - basically our entire lives for the sake of success in business. And if we're not seeing the results we want, it means we haven’t done enough, pushed hard enough, or put enough work into our money mindset.
But it’s time we started treating ourselves as human beings, instead of machines on a production line.
In my work, I’ve learned that hustling endlessly actually makes it harder to be effective and to see success in business. We can make more time and space for ourselves, and see more growth at the same time, when we focus on our most impactful tasks – instead of piling on more tactics and strategies that don't feel right. When we feel well and do what comes more naturally to us, we show up better for our businesses and for the people we serve through them.
Building balance is a lifelong practice, but I 100% believe it's our best bet for happiness.
If you want weekly actionable tips on how to experience more balance between business and life, make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode.
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When you don't feel like doing the task you had planned (continued.) Two weeks ago, I published an episode (24) where I shared a trick you can use when you don’t feel like doing the thing you planned.
Ever since I recorded that episode, I’ve had this nagging feeling that there’s another way that I like to address this, too.
Sometimes the answer is to follow your energy, and in this episode I share 3 things to consider to make a more intentional decision about how you do that.
Also – Make Your Day is now Building Balance. What do you think?
P.S. Get the details about the 3-month group coaching experience Progress with Purpose
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I know it’s only October, but soon enough we’ll be in that typical pressure-filled goal-setting season that usually pops up towards the end of the year. Or maybe you’ve already been seeing a lot of messaging around how to “finish the year strong”.
In this episode, I share a 7 step goal-setting process that you can use to set goals for yourself and your business in a way that's sustainable and that can serve you long term – so that you’re not hustling yourself into the ground to hit a certain numbers goal just because it’s the last quarter of the year.
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Since I’ve been feeling motivated to get things done in the past week, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about one secret trick that helps you be more motivated to do what you have decided that you’d do.
And just like with most things that I share with you, this is something that gets stronger with repetition and practice. It’s quite a handy trick because all you need is your mind 🧠
BTW I’m not saying that this trick is something you should use to force yourself to do things that don’t feel right to you, or to push yourself when you're exhausted and actually need to rest.
This is just for those “Eh I don’t really feel like it” feels, but you know that you actually WANT to get that thing done and you know that you have the energy and capacity for it once you get going.
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Not naturally organized? That's ok – routines and practices can still help you spend time on what makes an impact in your business and life.
P.S. Don’t forget to join my Close Friends list on Instagram through the Close Friends highlight in my bio.
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When our brain picks up on stress, we’re hard-wired to think that we need to do more – like when we’re worried about making enough money.
That’s why the productivity industry does so well – because of the promise that we can squeeze more out of the time we have. The industry also strengthens the belief that the way you show you're valuable, competent, and capable is by getting more done.
But only increasing productivity is not really a smart or sustainable long-term solution.
Since you’re here, you probably already believe that doing all the things isn’t sustainable – but it can still feel hard to do less because the assumption is that it’ll mess with your bottom line.
This is why I wanted to share a tool with you that was and continues to be really helpful to me (the 80/20 rule), and how you can easily apply it in 5 steps.
P.S. Don’t forget to grab a screenshot and share/say hi on Instagram!
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Ever feel like everything you do is under a magnifying glass? Just kidding – we all feel that way sometimes. This is because of a phenomenon that social psychologists call The Spotlight Effect.
In this episode, I talk about how it might affect how you take action in your business, manage your time, or how much you spend time enjoying your life outside of your task list.
P.S. Don’t forget to grab a screenshot and share/say hi on Instagram!
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In this episode, I talk about whether or not I think it's worth hustling in those first few years of your business, and what my own experience of hustling was as I started and grew my documentary family photography business.
*Of course, the experience looks different for everyone and everyone has different limits to how much they can handle – I'm sharing my own experience of overworking, and there's a growing trend of business owners who are sharing stories about how hustle impacted their lives which are along the same lines as mine.
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Today I want to address this feeling that getting more done is the only way, the only choice you have, to solve the issues or the resistance that you’re experiencing in your business (or life).
You may have heard me talk about the nervous system before, and the flight-fight-freeze response – but I think that a bit of repetition never hurts when it comes to this stuff and I don’t think I’ve gone this deep into how it increases the tendency to overwork.
In case you didn’t know, I’m a trained psychologist and I love to dip into the theories and research that I feel are relevant for you to know; things that affect your ability to get things done or to enjoy life.
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In this week's episode, I talk about three key ways that Finns approach life, that I think are part of what makes us some of the happiest people in the world - while we also get the things done that need to be done.
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Today I want to talk about how we can all start feeling a bit more like we have enough...ish hours in our day.
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Between what goes on in the world, what’s happening in your life, plus your responsibilities, thoughts and any aspirations you have for your life – there’s quite a lot that can weigh your mind down.
And when you’ve got a lot on your mind, you have less bandwidth to deal with the things that you need to deal with throughout the day – so!
Today I’m gonna share four steps that I hope will help you get some relief from all the things that are filling up your mind. You can do this to declutter your brain whenever you need to, whenever you feel like you are holding onto too much in your head and just need to calm all of that down.
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I used to have this problem that I’d plan my business tasks for days, weeks, months – and suddenly it felt like I had already “lost” that time. Like because I knew exactly what my next few days or weeks were going to look like, I didn’t look forward to them as much anymore because they were already spoken for.
So today I thought I would tell you about some things that I did to get back to feeling more excited about my weeks, even if they were regular work weeks.
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Today I wanna talk about something that I think we all have to deal with multiple times per day, even if it’s often quite subtle or subconscious even, which is making decisions. I've come up with a decision-making matrix that can help you make choices in the context of how you spend your time, get things done or follow through on what you’ve planned to do. And it can also help you decide what kinds of tasks or commitments to take on.
Decision-Making Matrix blog post
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Today I want to talk about 10 reasons that could be behind feeling overwhelmed by all the things you gotta do – and what you can do about each of those 10 things.
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Today I want to chat to you about how you can do it all – or at least, how we can feel like we have enough time for the things that matter to us.
In case you’ve followed me along for a while, you might know or might have guessed, that we don’t have kids. The time available to me is very different from that of a parent’s, but I still believe that the ideas I’m going to talk about can be applied to most people – it’ll just look different for everyone.
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Today I’m going to talk about something that I’ve had to remind myself of a lot lately, which is that it's ok to start small – even if the outcome you want is something big.
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In this episode I’m gonna walk you through a practice that has made a really big difference in how I feel at home and how I deal with all those nagging things that need to be managed in life, but that don't feel like a priority from day to day. This way they don't pile up so much that they become overwhelming and I don't need to tackle them in a state of stress when they've become a problem.
Get free PDF guide to help you plan your weekly tasks.
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If you’re familiar with me already, you probably know that I think we all need personalized solutions to our time and task management – and I try to steer clear of prescribing cookie-cutter systems.
But as I have talked to people and experimented with managing all of it over the years, I do feel like there are some general rules or guidelines that we can lean on, so that we can within those guidelines create a schedule or daily rhythms and routines that we enjoy. And of course they make sense from a psychological standpoint, too.
Get the weekly task list template I talked about.
Get free PDF guide to help you plan your weekly tasks.
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Today I want to talk about some self care thoughts for small business owners, creatives, really anyone who is looking to change how they go about their everyday lives and would like to have some more mental strength.
So as you might guess, this is not going to be a list of indulgent fluffy self care – this has more to do with mental and emotional wellbeing, because when you’re going against the grain, when you do something different from most people you know – you need to take care of these aspects of your life so that you can keep going.
Self care is about so much more than how we care for our bodies – it is just as important that we care for our minds, too.
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I got a request to make an episode about how to know when you’re done for the day, or how to step away from your work when you still have so much left to do – so that’s what’s on the menu on this quick little episode.
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In this episode I’m going to cover a handful or two of things that make it easier for you to follow through on your plans – whether that’s how you’ve planned your week or if you’re starting new habits and routines.
In the last episode I talked about three reasons behind why it’s so hard to stick to new habits and routines – so if you didn’t listen to it yet, I would suggest you listen to that one first before getting to this one, so that you have a better understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes when following through on something feels hard.
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In this episode I’m going to cover three things that make it hard to stick to plans or new habits – even if you originally felt excited about them.
There are a lot of things that can derail us from sticking to plans, but I want to talk about three specific reasons that aren’t being talked about enough in the world of time management, productivity and coaching.
Knowing these will hopefully help you understand your feelings and actions better, so that you can be a bit more understanding and gentle with yourself.
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This episode is for you if you are craving structure in your day, but are also worried that routines and planning make life too boring or predictable. I hope that I can give you a new perspective and help you get more motivated to stick to routines.
I'll offer 8 reasons why I think routines and structure bring freedom and flexibility – plus a bonus tip on how you can make sure that your days include room for spontaneousness.
*If you are someone who is thriving without structure, that's great! What works for you is what works for you, and I'm not here to tell you to change something that works.
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This episode will cover how you can plan your tasks into your week effectively, so you don't need to work off a never-ending to do list.
Having everything you need to do already listed out (and decluttered) will help you when planning, so if you need to list out and declutter your tasks first, hop on over to episode 002 where I walk you through that process.
Weekly planning practice PDF
Weekly task sheet downloadable
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In last week’s episode I showed you how you can create a schedule that works for you. Now that you have that structure in place, you can work towards ditching your to do list once and for all, by always planning for your tasks into your schedule.
But before you can fully ditch your to do list, it’s best to do a bit of "spring cleaning" aka declutter your tasks.
Declutter questions
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Hi, and welcome to my first official episode! The three first episodes are going to be very how-to oriented, so that you get the basics down on how you can manage your tasks and your time in a way that works for you.
In this episode I’ll show you how you can create a schedule that fits you and your life. I wanted to talk about this in the first episode, because it’s so hard to move through your week in an intentional way, if you’re solely relying on a to do list but don’t have structure in your week.
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Before I post official episodes on here, I want to take a moment to tell you a little bit about this thing and about something that I believe is important for you to know.
Find me here:
Instagram @thejennahellberg
Coaching website